http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
lol]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
OMG IT'S NOT AN iPAD !!!]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
no but seriously tho, if we figure out self-sustaining fusion, our energy future is solved. keep on keeping on "national ignition facility"(?) !]]>Jan 28th 2010 1:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Unless it's 1.21 Jigawatts, i'm not satisfied. ]]>Jan 28th 2010 2:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
LASER CATS!!!!!!]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
i dunno lol]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
Cats...only cats will win that war. *sigh*]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
only ceiling cat knows]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 2:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
That cat is getting owned.]]>Jan 28th 2010 2:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
hey now, we have gotten closer than the 70's. we know know they would be plasma, and way too fucking hot to actually hold on to. thats something.]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/I'm sure we'll have a cooling solution for the handle.
Liquid Nitrogen cooler anyone?]]>Jan 28th 2010 1:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 2:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Just goes to prove once again, cats are evil.
]]>Jan 28th 2010 1:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
What's funny is that cat is just yawning and you're scared - imagine if it was attacking! ]]>Jan 28th 2010 1:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/that pic made me join this discussion :-)) ]]>Jan 28th 2010 2:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/I think SHARKS WITH FRICKIN LASER BEAMS!]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
"One megajoule laser brings nuclear fusion closer to reality"

Yeah, I'm pretty sure fusion is already a reality.

(posted while sitting in the warmth of the sun)]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 1:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
Fixed, thanks.]]>Jan 28th 2010 9:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
NIF's purpose is to test fuels for positive Q. In other words, it looks for fuels (both elements and geometry ) that produce more energy then what it took to put in them. We haven't even begun to tackle the materials issues of a fusion power plant. Real fusion as a human controlled power source is at least 50-75 years if not more. ]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/The timeline so far aims at a demonstration powerplant somehwere around 2045.]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
JET was able to briefly produce net energy. If NIF is successful to make fusion a reality a version will have to be built that allows the pellets to be removed and added at a rate of one every 10 minutes (insteda of a few hours) .. and of course a housing that can heat water up to drive a turbine.

It's known which elements will produce net energy via fusion (anything below Iron in the periodic table). The materials issue you are referring to .. "neutron embrittlement" ... is a cost issue more than environmental .. it's actually negligible in comparison to the product of a fission plant but the environmentalists make a huuuge deal out of it.

Design of the hohlraum's geometry is a challenge .. yes (though solvable). The materials issue will go away when aneutronic fusion experiments get approval (successor machine to Z pinch and radical electrostatic confinement techniques such as dense plasma focus).
]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
Your statement is confusing. Either it is an alternative to fossil fuels, or it isn't, regardless of the time frame.]]>Jan 28th 2010 1:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
Yes, JET showed a positive Q, except that was from a D-D Plasma, where as NIF is testing for Q from pellet. Even then, Q's on the order of 10 are needed for real fusion viability. NIF is supposed to test various shapes and configurations for Inertial Confinement.

Materials issues are far more then just neutron embrittlement. Plasma facing components have immense fusion problems. Extreme neutron flux, peaked at 14 MeV, plasma leakage, and basically the inability to use our most highly developed material for Nuclear applications, steels. Tungsten is already showing phenomena we didn't even think would happen. This is from test samples at JET.

A realisitic fusion powerplant would need to have a rep rate of 30hz.
Yes ITER is supposed to hit 500MW for 1000 seconds. But the materials community has stated that the first wall will have to be replaced after this and the secondary walls will likely have suffered irreparable damage. ITER doesn't even attempt to produce electricity, so we haven't even included that problem of diverting the heat away.

We're not going to get ITER until 2040-2050. The materials don't exist. Want proof? Look at ICFRM-14 Program. For those that don't know, that stands for 14th International Conference on Fusion Reactor Materials. Add to the complication that Russians aren't sharing much of their Tungsten information and you can easily see why this will take 75+ years.

This doesn't mean we should stop investing. We need to invest more. Fusion is a large problem and will take lots of investment and time to get it right. But that doesn't change the fact that it won't be doable in next 5-7 decades. I doubt it will occur in this century. ]]>Jan 28th 2010 1:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
It's not. Any alternative to fossil fuels needs to occur on a much shorter time scale or the ADD that plagues human society will cause us move on to something more dramatic like the supposed end of the world in 2012. Fission is an alternative. Fusion is not. It's a post cursor to fission.]]>Jan 28th 2010 1:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Its certainly true that by means of those facility , utilizing a powerful laserbeam, Nuclear Fusion can be realized. BUT , the method applied, is at the moment mostly used to study the exotic states of matter during the fusion process: Highly dense and very hot matter so far observed during Hydrogenbomb tests.
The lasers are used here to create a means of initalising inertial fusion, driven by a wave propagating into the matter.
In order to function as a viable energy source would have to function on a multi Hz basis, menaing several shots at those energy a second,.. which is upto now rather difficult to achieve.

The more likely approach to reach fusion as an energy source is here the magnetic fusion. Using large magnets to confine a hot plasma, and thus producing fusion under much more quiesent scenarios.

www.iter.org]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
Laser fusion has just as much potential. Japan, and Europe both have laser fusion programs unrelated to weapons research (for sure the Japanese one isn't).
]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
Thanks for the heads up.]]>Jan 28th 2010 3:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
Nevermind that the fusion budget was slashed by a whopping 95% in the seventies (thanks Nixon). Some of the fusion machines that are coming online now were the ones designed in the 70's (ITER) and were supposed to be operational in the 80s but budgets were cut.
]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
I wonder which industries didn't want clean, abundant, high tech power...? ]]>Jan 28th 2010 2:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Haha, have you any idea how much has been put into fission reactor research? Even with the budget cut it's more money than is imaginable.
And even just the US it's humongous, as for the combined world investment, well I probably can't pronounce the amount.
]]>Jan 28th 2010 3:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
Makes me reconsider my plans to take a break vom iPadget.]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
vom = from]]>Jan 28th 2010 12:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/Jan 28th 2010 12:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/
GIGAwatts]]>Jan 28th 2010 1:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/one-megajoule-laser-brings-nuclear-fusion-closer-to-reality/http://www.youtube.com/watch#v=I5cYgRnfFDA]]>Jan 28th 2010 1:10PM